Video: Martin Gray will focus on recruiting experience to improve the squad

Martin Gray says there will be no summer holidays for him while instead focusing on experienced player recruitment – and getting preparations right for the new season.

The Minstermen today released nine players following a simply disastrous campaign in which they eventually finished mid-table in National League North.

However, eleven more still remain under contract with the club. City’s boss is seeking an overall first-team squad of eighteen, including young sixteen-year-old prospect Vinnie Steels

“We’ve tried to act as quick as we could so the players know what their futures are,” Gray told BBC Radio York. “Whether they are with York City or without York City. We’ve got to make changes and do them straight away.

“All the players that are under contract are with us. There’s a few players’ [contract] options kicked in. So they’re with us as well. But it’s important we keep what we feel is the spine of the team.

“We’ve got some very, very good players that we’ve kept”, he continued. “But equally we’ve got to make sure that we bring in better than what’s left – and the right senior players from this level and the league above.

“There’s one or two [released] players that have unfortunately fallen short for certain reasons. But some real honest people in there. There are two or three real good characters that make it a more difficult conversation.

“Then there’s the other side of it where they’re pleased to see the back of me, and I’m certainly pleased to see the back of them.

“It’s all about the future of York City now,” Gray insisted. “That started this morning and we’ve got to make sure that we nail this down and get in the ones that we feel are right.”